More Than Half-Million People Visited Great Smoky Mountains In January

In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visitors aren't slowing down. According to data from the National Park Service, this past January was the busiest one on record.

"We had over half a million people come to the park in January," said park spokeswoman Dana Soehn. "We usually don't see a half a million mark until March."

In 2020, the park welcomed nearly 12.1 million visitors, despite being closed for more than 40 days. That's just shy of the all-time record set in 2019 with 12.5 million visitors.

"I think people were just ready to get out and find a safe place to recreate and escape all the challenges we were having during the pandemic," Soehn said. "We've seen that visitation continue into 2021."

If you're hoping to avoid the crowds, Soehn said timing plays a big factor.

"Plan your trips mid-week, come early in the morning or come later in the afternoon," she said. "That'll be easier as daylight allows more time for people to explore later in the summer."

Check out the full article from 10News here.